Automatic sprinkler



Dec. 2 1958 E. J. DUKES 6 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed Ju1y'15, 1957 INV EN TOR. 46 d. 00/1219 United States Patent AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Eugene J. Dukes, Cambria Heights, N. Y. Application July 15, 1957, Serial No. 671,803

2 Claims. (Cl. 160-88) This invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus and more particularly to an automatic sprinkler device.

While various types of sprinkler systems have been used to extinguish fires from within a building, the capacity of such sprinklers is limited by the operating pressure of the extinguishing fluid and the cross sectional area of the discharge nozzle. In the same respect, the operating pressure is limited by the prescribed safe working pressures of the piping used in such systems. Furthermore, it has been found that in order to double the fluid flow through the nozzle by increasing the operating pressure of the fluid, it would be necessary to quadruple the pressure which is usually not possible because of the limited strength of the supply lines. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic sprinkler device in which the cross sectional area of the discharge orifice may be selectively enlarged at any time during the extinguishing of a fire so as to increase the rate of flow of the fire extinguishing fluid without unduly increasing the operating pressure thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic sprinkler of the type described which will operate to discharge a normal quantity of water in response to the predetermined local increase in temperature until the operating pressure is increased sufllciently to provide a discharge orifice of enlarged cross sectional area to increase the rate of flow.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic sprinkler of thistype which may be manufactured in large quantities at relatively low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following'specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a sprinkler made in accordance with the present invention with the parts disposed in a normally closed position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the sprinkler in use for discharging a fluid stream of a normal size; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the sprinkler in use discharging a substantially larger stream of fluid.

Referring to the drawing, a sprinkler head made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a threaded hollow base 12 of standard dimensions having a discharge opening 13 opening upwardly toward a yoke 15 of substantially ring shape. A threaded sleeve 17 in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the base 12 threadingly and adjustably supports a stream deflector plate 18 which reverses the direction of flow of fluid impelled thereagainst during the operation of the sprinkler. An orifice reduction ring 20 having a discharge orifice 21 of substantially reduced cross sectional area than the 2,862,565 Patented Dec. 2, 1958 discharge orifice 13 of the base 12, is releasably secured in engagement with the base 12 by means of a lug 23 and a frangible stud 24 located at diametrically opposite sides of the ring. The stud 24 is provided with a weakened portion 25 which, in response to the exertion of a suflicient upward force by the ring 20 will fracture so as to automatically remove the ring 20 from engagement with the base 12. A closure cap 27 is releasably supported on top of a discharge orifice 21 of the reduction ring 20 by means of a fusible strut 28 that is disposed between the sleeve 17 and the top of the cap 27.

In operation, the melting of the fusible strut 28 in response to an extreme temperature rise in the particular enclosure will automatically release the closure cap 27 to permit the pressurized stream of fluid 30 to discharge outwardly through the reduced orifice 21 of the ring 20. Of course, the quantity of fluid so discharged is sufiicient for normal purposes but in response to a very hot fire, such stream may prove to be inadequate. Thus, by increasing the pressure of the fluid stream temporarily to effect a suflicient force to fracture the frangible stud 24, the weakened portion 25 will fracture 25a to discharge the ring 20 and permit the fluid stream to discharge outwardly through the discharge orifice 13 of the base 12. This stream 30a is of substantially larger cross sectional area so that the rate of fluid discharged is greatly increased with a substantial increase in operating pressure. In the event that the smaller stream is sufficient, the ring 20 will remain in place during the entire operation, the device 10a being normally sulficient, but being automatically convertible to a larger capacity unit 10b as may be required.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An automatic sprinkler head comprising, in combination, a hollow base having means for threaded engagement with a water supply pipe, said hollow base defining an upwardly opening orifice, a yoke supported upon and above said base, a deflector supported upon said yoke in alignment with said orifice, an orifice reduction ring supported upon said base with closing engagement with said defined orifice and further defining an orifice of reduced size, a cap removably closing said orifice of reduced size, and retaining means releasably securing said cap in closing engagement, said retaining means comprising a fusible strut disposed between said yoke and said cap, and destructible means securing said orifice reduction ring in said closing engagement with said defined orifice independenfly of said fusible strut, said destructible means comprising a fixed lug and a frangible lug carried by said yoke and acting at diametrically opposite sides of said ring.

2. A sprinkler head as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frangible lug comprises a threaded stud having a centrally located weakened portion spaced diametrically outwardly from said ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,233,289 Thomson July 10, 1917 1,997,404 Hamilton Apr. 9, 1935 2,560,468 Morton July 10, 1951 2,697,008 Rowley Dec. 14, 1954 

